Internship - Research and Fundraising on Microfinance for Climate Resilience for FAIR & GREEN units

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin colour. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled in a firmer and more honest way. 

Equality is the common thread in our work and projects, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who hesitates to apply, no matter the reason. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone not only feels welcome, but where diversity is embraced and celebrated. Let's strive together to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

Internship - Research and Fundraising on Microfinance for Climate Resilience for the FAIR – Financial Systems and Investments (FSI) and GREEN Climate Resilience (CRC) UNITS - Context and description:

Climate change is intertwined with addressing poverty and inequality. About 100 million additional people live in poverty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, climate change and natural degradation continue at an unprecedented rate and its impacts become more visible by the day. Climate change induced shocks like cyclones, flooding, heat waves and slow onset disasters (droughts, changing and erratic rain patterns, rising temperatures, etc) have a huge negative impact on agriculture, food security and livelihoods in general. Those communities in the frontline of climate change (and specifically the women), who least contributed to the climate change, and who have the least resources to deal with the impact, are hit the hardest (Climate Equality: A planet for the 99% - Oxfam Policy & Practice).

The GREEN Climate Resilience Unit

The GREEN Climate Resilience Unit supports the most vulnerable rural communities, especially indigenous communities, small-scale farmers, food producers, rural women, and youth to increase their climate change resilience by a) securing their rights and access to livelihood and productive resources (land, water, seeds, agro-biodiversity, information, finance, techniques) without conflicts; b) conserving biodiversity and restoring landscapes they depend on ; and by c) strengthening food and livelihood security, through agriculture, ecosystem services, employment, or their own alternative businesses. We support their organisations, movements, and Alliances to strengthen their agency and have an active say on the Government and Private Sector policies and research that determine (rural) futures and food production/processing. These people most affected by climate change need the access to, and use of climate adaptation funds to realize their locally defined solutions.

The FAIR Financial Systems and Investments Unit

The FAIR Financial Systems and Investments Unit addresses extreme inequality and climate change driven by todays’ growth-focused economic system. Our Unit’s work is situated in our call for an economy centred around justice, care and sustainability rather than corporate profits and GDP growth, what we call a ‘Human Economy’.

The unit's different teams (Fair Finance, Public Finance & Inequality, Impact SME Development and Impact Investments) all aim to contribute to this shift toward an alternative economic system.

Oxfam Novib’s Impact Investments (Oxfam Novib Investments)

Oxfam Novib believes that Impact investments are critical in creating inclusive, sustainable, and fair economies that tackle poverty and inequality. Our two funds and other strategic investments totalling approximately 70 million euros aim to support vulnerable groups, specifically female and rural microentrepreneurs, and small-scale food producers impacted by climate change.

We have been investing in improving the financial sector in developing countries since the 1970s. In 1996-1997, Oxfam Novib formulated and adopted an inclusive finance approach to support starting and expanding microfinance institutions (MFIs). One year later, our first impact investment fund was born, the Oxfam Novib Fund. Since its establishment in 1998, Oxfam Novib Fund has been leading the way in promoting systemic change.

Oxfam Novib Fund (ONF)

The Oxfam Novib Fund (ONF) was established to promote financial inclusion through microfinance institutions (MFIs) worldwide. The main objective of ONF is to assist MFIs in helping vulnerable communities to recover and build resilience. To achieve this, ONF aims to mitigate the risks associated with climate change, thereby enabling MFIs to offer adapted products and services that result in long-term social and financial benefits.

ONF is seeking to partner with MFIs operating in climate-prone regions. The partnership involves providing innovative finance to MFIs, to support their operations and expand their outreach to underserved communities.

The Innovation Lab

This credit line has two main goals. Firstly, it aims to help our MFI partners innovate their product offerings, and increase their outreaches and approaches through innovation. Secondly, it aims to support Oxfam's programs and projects that address the challenge of accessing finance for vulnerable groups. In this context, we hope to connect the work of local partners and programs with local financial institutions.

This internship opportunity is a joint initiative of the FAIR-FSI/Impact Investments and GREEN-CRC Units. The primary goal of this internship is to conduct research and identify the most effective strategies for climate resilience building through innovative climate risk finance by MFI's, for initiatives in the area of agricultural production and/or its processing, eco system services or in other income generating activities that help diversify income sources.

Additionally, the intern will be responsible for mapping out the current opportunities and potential sources of funding and investments for programs in this area. The potential intern will also learn from and contribute to other pieces of work within the Unit.

Key tasks

• Identify good practices of resilience strengthening in climate change effected communities through adequate financial services
• Identify good practices of climate resilience strengthening amongst MFI’s
• Co-develop funding proposals on strengthening MFI’s resilience, development and testing of resilience strengthening financial services
• Identify/map donor opportunities for these funding proposals
• Identify potential interested investors for further resilience innovation in ONF

Who are we looking for?

• A student currently in a Bachelor's or Masters’ Degree in a relevant study
• A highly motivated, self-organized team player with:
• Interest in impact investments and climate change resilience in frontline communities
• Very good command of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Power Point, Excel and Word), and ideally also with software to create creative content (e.g. Canva) and using Word Press
• Excellent written & spoken English skills; excellent written & spoken Spanish and/or French skills are considered an advantage.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and gender awareness; excellent communication skills
• Affinity with event planning & organization
• A Good understanding of organizational communication processes
• Willingness to learn and share your knowledge with others

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to the internships at Oxfam Novib must meet the following requirements:

• Be an active student of 18 years of age minimum;
• Be enrolled at a Dutch educational institution (first level university degree, higher schools (HBO) or other), with the internship being a requirement in the curriculum;
• Have the legal right to live and work in The Netherlands or be prepared to obtain the right to follow an internship as part of their study in the Dutch educational institution. A three-partite internship agreement (between Oxfam Novib, the educational institution and the student) will be signed to that effect.
• Have less than 3 years of relevant full-time work experience.
• Not having been in employment with Oxfam Novib previously.

Our offer
An intern in Oxfam Novib is offered an internship contract for the duration of the internship and a monthly allowance based on €450, - per month on a basis of a 36-hour work week, pro-rata in case of less hours.

The intern is expected to have a student OV card; however, if not applicable, a reimbursement of commuting costs will be offered.

Oxfam Novib works on hybrid basis – partly from office, partly from home. 

During the internship, the intern is supervised; overarching by the Manager of the GREEN CRC Unit and daily/weekly by a designated colleague/buddy.

The period of this internship takes place between August/September 2024 until Januari/February 2025 (approximately a period of 5 months).

Working at Oxfam Novib

All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.

Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values, and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.

We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.

Additional information

Do you believe that this is the internship you are looking for? Then we would love to receive your application! Please note that only applications received before the closing date of 5 May 2024 and submitted via our application portal will be taken into consideration.

If you have questions regarding the position, please reach out to

Petra Hamers, Policy Lead, petra.hamers@oxfamnovib.nl and/or Tamara Campero, Investments Manager, tamara.campero@oxfamnovib.nl